Iron Mtn (before it gets too hot)
Cactus to Clouds - not sure current snow conditions up top

I don't know if she will like you very much after Iron Mtn . It would already be way too hot for me but I get hot fast

Dude,

If you do Iron this month take plenty of water. You can stash some at Allison Saddle for the return. I'm certain that, especially during the last two miles to the summit, your wife will credit you with having given her a maximum workout. Also, in the first couple of miles of descent, you will be glad you brought trekking poles (at least one).

Good on her for seeking out a challenge!

The problem of snow coverage and a large part of the San Gabriels being closed cuts a lot out.

Iron Mt would be my first choice too, except I agree with others, will she like you after that?

It is possible you could hike part of the Desert Divide south of San Jacinto, some of the more southern parts are doable now, though I can't say how good the views are from any of those peaks.

There is also potential in Hines Peak or Santa Paula Peak north of the 126 in Los Padres. I haven't personally done either but I think the elevation gain would be decent.

However my suggestion is one I was going to do two weeks ago but put off: head up Big Tujunga - Angeles Forest Hwy - Upper Tujunga - Angeles Crest to Buckhorn. Take the trail down to Cooper Canyon and follow the Burkhardt trail to Burkhardt saddle. On the way you'll pass by the nice Cooper Canyon falls.

From the saddle, you can head east to ascend Pallet Mt, then drop back down and ascend west to Will Thrall Peak. You can continue west from Will Thrall to the next bump that is benchmarked and is known as the Pleasant View Ridge (well its all the ridge, but that's the marked spot).

This would all be a south facing approach so you would be able to avoid snow pretty well. I think overall you would get 5,000 ft gain out of it.

If you head up for Iron Saturday, I'll be around it maybe I'll run into you guys.


edit to add: also, if Iron is a bit too much, you could hike his little brother Rattlesnake Peak to the west. Similar terrain, but ~ 4000 ft gain instead of 7000).

+1 for desert divide.

I don't know current snow conditions(I haven't been out at all this winter ), but heading up devils slide gives you an endless amount of trails and peaks.

I was up on the Divide on April 24th. We just went up the Spitler Trail to the PCT and north to Apache Peak. There was a dusting of fresh snow in that area on the 24th, but it should all be gone now. There are some sections of the PCT north of Apache that don't melt off real fast, so you might still run into some sketchy snow sections north of Apache. Anyway, snow shouldn't be a problem on Divide from Apache to Hwy 74. If you get a clear day, the views from the Divide are wonderful both to the east and to the west. I always love the view out toward the Coachella Valley and the Santa Rosas.

The Dude wrote:All good stuff. Thanks guys. I tossed Iron Mountain out there for her and she jumped on it. She said she's going to get tan on the way up! So it looks like Iron Mtn it is. Stashing water at the saddle is a good idea.

Thanks again everyone...

Nice!! Get an early start (or maybe a really late one )

Whose running book on this?

Doesn't look like it will be too hot this weekend. Hope your wife doesn't curse me too afterward. Might see you on the trail if I don't do a road ride instead. Have a great time!

The Dude wrote:The wife has given me permission to "run her ragged" for a day on Saturday.

I probably would have taken this permission in a different direction.

The Dude wrote:

drpw wrote:

The Dude wrote:The wife has given me permission to "run her ragged" for a day on Saturday.

I probably would have taken this permission in a different direction.

Sunday's plan is a little different...

Classic

Some others and I stopped briefly at the saddle before descending in Coldwater canyon, suddenly someone flew by moving quickly up the ridge. I think she almost knocked me over!

@TheDude: I wondered if that was you with the fallen tomato slices.

Ze wrote:Some others and I stopped briefly at the saddle before descending in Coldwater canyon, suddenly someone flew by moving quickly up the ridge. I think she almost knocked me over!

Sorry, that would be me being impatient. Two of your party members were sitting directly in the very narrow trail, BTW. Hiker derby at its finest.

p.s. Saw your entry from earlier in the year ~2.5 hours to the summit!

p.s. Found this painted on a rock just below the summit of Iron on the start to San Antonio Ridge. Any E Asian language speakers who can translate?